Egypt’s Coptic Christians Getting Support From an Unlikely Source

Egypt’s Catholic Church is praising “ordinary” Muslims for supporting Coptic Christians, a religious minority group that has experienced multiple attacks by extremists — ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood during the last ninety days.

40 Coptics have reportedly been killed since December of last year by either the Muslim Brotherhood or ISIS. And it seems like the threats and executions against them have no sign of slowing down.

In recent weeks, Voice of America cited that ISIS has created a “Hit list” full of Christian names. And as a result, many are living in fear that they will be killed. Other news sources have reported that villages have been taunted with signs in the predominantly Christian area of North Sinai.

A region that is now considered to be “strongly entrenched” by ISIS, Father Rafic Grieiche of the Catholic Church said to the Catholic News Service.

The Egyptian based religious leader also explained earlier this week that the unsung heroes protecting Coptics are “ordinary muslims (who) are kind and (trying) to help however they can — they’re often first on the scene, rescuing the injured and taking them to hospitals.”

Even though, “You can never do enough against jihadist and terrorist attacks, which come, like any criminal acts, at a time no one can foresee”

“…I think there’s will on government side to act decisively against these constant attempts to destabilize Egypt.”

At this time the attacks are solely impacting Coptic Orthodox Christians and Catholic churches and schools in the neighboring city of Ismailia are offering shelter to Orthodox families.